Jackson's only skateboarding "park" is no more. Frank Henn posted on Facebook:
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| Source: Frank Henn Facebook page |
Here’s my unsolicited thoughts about the slab and some history of the place.We started building there about 9 years ago. Got caught on day 1 by Ken the owner. He let us roll with it. He’s always been very kind and upfront with us about wanting to actually use his property for making money. We did what we could to keep rolling, paid a couple hundred in property taxes for about 6 years. We then were approached by a local self-described conservative local radio personality working for Ken. He wanted $4000 a year from us. Our reality was we were not even raising and spending that much a year in concrete. We did what we could to keep building. About 2019-2020 Ken asked us to stop building and paying as well. We did as he wished. We stopped building and also maintaining ramps or picking up trash. That’s our bad. As well as building on someone’s private property, our bad. Not the city of Jackson, not the land owner. I’m thankful Ken let us use the spot for so long. It’s been the longest lasting public skatepark in central MS that I know of. So no need to hate on the city of Jackson or Ken for this.I’ve had so many great times building, skating and fundraising for this project. It’s brought people from around the world to Jackson. That guy who won skateboarding in the Olympics, skated and has a tag there. Bam of Jackass skated there just a month ago. Multiple pros have come through and had shots in magazines. Hospitals shot whole ass commercials at our expense out there. The biggest void left might be in music video production. If you haven’t shot a music video at the slab, it’s because you don’t music.I know I’m getting lost in this post. Thank you everyone that’s been any sort of part of this. I’ve made the best friends here and had the most amazing times hanging out, building and falling down. End of the day we knew this spot was a bust and we’re stoked it lasted this long.It’s not clear what that locations future is. The owner has not made it clear. I won’t speculate.Your local city is your skatepark. Know your local laws and rights as you hit the streets in central MS.Catch me at the pickleball stationLate
Oh yeah, this is the Jitney Jungle building that burned down. JJ reported on June 1, 2010:
12 comments:
liability liability liability! get your city to build one.
If the county took just a fraction of the $1 million they're about to hand over to JSU they could build a really nice skate park.
Positive thing brought about by skater dude and a generous owner. Win win. Class act on gratitude by skaters and generosity by owner. Wish more kids and property owners were like this in the world.
That's too bad - you guys did a lot with very little and should be commended. Though I haven't been on a board in decades I still have it and have watched several of the YouTube vids made there. I wonder what the owner plans to do with that site...it isn't exactly a prime location.
I disagree with the completely unsupported legal opinion at 9:36.
Mississippi still follows common law premise liability. A land owner owes different duties depending on the status of the person on the property.
"kids never play outside anymore"
I'd love to know the name of the "local conservative radio personality"
11:25. have you followed this blog? scroll down a few and read some of the lawsuits.
someone will sue no matter what some old statue on the books says.
@11:40
I can only think of two, and both are believable to me.
Hello sir. You were told that this day would come. So quit acting like you and others are entitled to the owner's property.If you are so smart and successful get the city to donate some of it's land and build a permanent place for all skaters.
I am also impressed at the integrity of both sides of this equation. Paying taxes and occupying & building on someone else’s property might have made a case for adverse possession, absent proof of permission. Seen landowners get burned by that before.
I do recall a law being passed in recent years absolving landowners of liability when the injured party was trespassing, but if there was proof of permission then liability is a risk.
or the city or county could buy the land, spruce it up and make it a real skateboard park.
Nothing to stop them from charging fees to use it either.
Why would the City Of Jackson try to purchase land when they own property all over the city that they can donate to be used as an official City sanctioned Skate Park and let the DIY community know that they have a permanent home
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